Luhut Strictly Reprimands Bali Governor On Handling COVID-19

JAKARTA - The Governor of Bali, I Wayan Koster, was reprimanded by the Coordinator of the Emergency PPKM for Java and Bali, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.

Luhut reprimanded Koster after receiving reports from his subordinates that there were a number of health centers "playing" with COVID-19 patients.

"Earlier it was a health center, the Health Office was playing. I didn't want to hear it, in fact it wasn't ready. I got a report from my subordinates who had come here for three days, the report is the same as this," said Luhut to Koster.

The rebuke of the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment to the Governor of Bali, who is also a PDIP cadre, has sparked political perceptions. Because, I Wayan Koster is a loyalist of General Chair Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Recalling that some time ago Megawati had insinuated President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to lead and direct the handling of COVID-19.

"It seems that the war of nerves between PDIP and Luhut has started," said Pangi Syarwi Chaniago, Executive Director of the Voxpoll Center Research and Consulting, Friday, August 13.

However, according to Pangi, the political stance of the PDIP which began to voice criticism of the Jokowi government is normal. The reason is, all this time the bull party has lost the stage.

This is because all strategic policies from the beginning of handling the COVID-19 pandemic were under the domination of Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, who is a senior from the Golkar Party. Moreover, recently, Luhut also became the chairman of the steering committee for saving the lake.

"It could be that PDIP figures have lost the stage because of Luhut's dominance in handling COVID-19, naturally PDIP then asked Jokowi to take command," Pangi said.